Thanks to Trump and the GOP, a California single-payer healthcare system is now possible

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Could California have its own single-payer health insurance system providing coverage for all residents? A bill has been introduced in the state Legislature that would do just that — and its chances of success could be vastly improved by President Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

Thanks, guys!


First, a little history lesson. Stick with me because this is important.

California flirted with a single-payer system when the Legislature signed off on the idea in 2006 and again in 2008. The bills were vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who declared in 2006 that “socialized medicine is not the solution to our state’s healthcare problems.”

Those legislative efforts were spearheaded by Sheila Kuehl, who was then a state senator and is now a Los Angeles County supervisor. She and I spoke frequently during California’s flirtation with single payer and we caught up on the topic this week.

Her biggest mistake in 2008, Kuehl told me, was not effectively countering the “socialized medicine” line from Republicans and conservative critics.

http://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-california-single-payer-healthcare-20170303-story.html

We can be our own little Canada with better weather. Marijuana is legal. Single payer.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Well, we know Sessions wants to imprison all liberals and celebrities and will use

marijuana federal laws to do it.

But as to healthcare, you are right.

Could happen. Should happen. The lobbies against it are strong and vast. The scare campaign by the health insurers will be unprecedented in size and lies.

You have to realize there are thousands of millionaires who are such because they stand between you and your doctor and they do so to profit off of your death.

[still_one]

2. I hope it makes it, I will vote for it, but it isn't a given, and has a long road ahead

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. If Drumpf block grants Medicaid we can use that money as a foundation.

[still_one]

4. I would gladly pay higher taxes for a single payer implementation if they needed to

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. What would happen to employer based plans?

BTW, I hope the Villaraigosa Newsom race is civil.

[still_one]

6. I don't know. I would assume they would still be available

[Merlot]

8. I don't like either one of them

both have baggage. Villaraigosa was a huge dissapointment as mayor. Newsom just coasts, though I did like what he did as mayor. So Newsom gets my half-hearted, not very enthusiastic, I hope someone else runs- vote.

Villaraigosa just needs to go away.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

7. Nice for California, but sucks for the rest of us. n/t